Home > Herbs > Phillyrea Latifolia

Green Olive Tree

Phillyrea latifolia · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (30 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

Green Olive Tree, scientifically known as Phillyrea latifolia, is a resilient evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region. Renowned for its leathery leaves and small white flowers, this hardy plant thrives in rocky soils. It holds significant ethnobotanical value, often utilized in traditional remedies for its diverse medicinal properties.

Family
Oleaceae
Native range
Europe
Parts used
Leaf
Common names
Green Olive Tree
Scientific synonyms
Olea Latifolia · Phillyrea Angustifolia Subsp. Latifolia · 179 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Phillyrea latifolia

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Labiérnago de hoja ancha

German:

  • Breitblättrige Steinlinde
  • Breitblaettrige Steinlinde
  • Breitblättrige Steinlinde

French:

  • Filaire a lages feuilles
  • Filaire à feuilles larges

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, it is a member of the Oleaceae family. Specifically, it is categorized under the genus Phillyrea.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Lamiales
Family Oleaceae
Genus Phillyrea

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several regions within Southwestern Europe. It can be found growing in the Balearic Islands, known as Baleares. Its presence extends to the islands of Corsica and Sardegna. Additionally, the species is documented within the territories of France. Finally, its geographical range includes the coastal areas of Portugal.

Region Area
Southwestern Europe Baleares
Southwestern Europe Corse
Southwestern Europe France
Southwestern Europe Portugal
Southwestern Europe Sardegna
Southwestern Europe Spain
Southeastern Europe Albania
Southeastern Europe Bulgaria
Southeastern Europe Greece
Southeastern Europe Italy

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phillyrea latifolia is characterized by its preference for specific Mediterranean landscapes, where it primarily thrives within shrubberies. These dense, woody formations provide the structural complexity necessary for its growth and survival within its native ecosystem. In terms of topographical distribution, the species occupies a distinct vertical niche, maintaining an average elevational range of approximately 450 m AMSL (meters above sea level). This positioning within the mid-elevation zones helps define its ecological role and spatial interaction with the surrounding flora and fauna.

Elevational range mean:
450 m AMSL
Habitat :
shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Phillyrea latifolia is characterized by a long-lived, perennial lifecycle, ensuring its persistence within its natural Mediterranean habitats over many years. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategies, the plant exhibits distinct life forms depending on its developmental stage and environmental context, primarily functioning as a phanerophyte due to its woody, shrubby nature where buds are borne on branches above the ground. Additionally, it can be classified as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its stature as a small shrub with relatively short woody stems. These biological traits allow the species to maintain a stable presence in its ecosystem, navigating seasonal variations through its enduring perennial structure.

Life form :
nanophanerophyte
Life form :
phanerophyte
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phillyrea latifolia is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a shrub or a tree, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 15 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte or a climber; instead, it is a self-supporting organism that does not rely on other structures for elevation, such as lianas or vines. Furthermore, the plant is an independent organism rather than a parasite, maintaining its own physiological processes without being an obligatory or facultative parasite on host plants.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
shrub
Growth form :
tree
Parasite :
independent
Plant height max:
15 m
Woodiness :
woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phillyrea latifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common among many Mediterranean woody shrubs that facilitates carbon fixation under temperate conditions. This plant exhibits a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 78.38 cm²/g, a parameter that reflects its leaf thickness and density, indicating a functional adaptation to optimize the balance between light interception and water conservation within its ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :
C3
Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:
78.38 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phillyrea latifolia is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period that typically begins in April and concludes in May. The plant produces fruit in the form of a fleshy drupe, which is indehiscent in nature. These fruits have an average length of 0.71 cm and an average width of 0.75 cm. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are spread by animals. The seeds contained within the fruit exhibit a consistent volume of 16 mm³, with no variance between the minimum and maximum recorded values. Regarding seed mass, there is significant variability, ranging from a minimum of 0.0003 g to a maximum of 0.04154 g, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.027895 g.

Dehiscence :
indehiscent
Dispersal syndrome :
zoochorous
Flowering time :
Apr
Flowering time :
May
Fruit dryness :
fleshy
Fruit length mean:
0.71 cm
Fruit type :
drupe
Fruit width mean:
0.75 cm
Seed mass max:
0.04154 g
Seed mass mean:
0.027895 g
Seed mass min:
3e-04 g
Seed volume max:
16 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phillyrea latifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Plant parts reported in Phillyrea latifolia
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Leaf 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Leaf

  1. Pharmaceutical biology
  2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Phillyrea latifolia has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Luteolin 7-O-glucoside, Apigenin 7-O-glucoside, Apigenin 7-O-rutinoside, Betulin, CHLOROGENIC ACID.

Chemicals reported in Phillyrea latifolia
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Luteolin 7-O-glucoside 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Apigenin 7-O-glucoside 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Apigenin 7-O-rutinoside 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Betulin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
CHLOROGENIC ACID 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Coniferin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Ligustroflavone 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Oleuropeoside 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Phillyrin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Salidroside 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Luteolin 7-O-glucoside

  1. Pharmaceutical biology
  2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Apigenin 7-O-glucoside

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Apigenin 7-O-rutinoside

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Betulin

  1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROGENIC ACID

  1. Pharmaceutical biology

Coniferin

  1. Planta medica

Ligustroflavone

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Oleuropeoside

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Phillyrin

  1. Planta medica

Salidroside

  1. Planta medica

Activities

Phillyrea latifolia has 13 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include AntiHIV, Anticarcinomic, Antidiabetic, Antifeedant, Antiflu.

Activities reported in Phillyrea latifolia
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
AntiHIV 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Anticarcinomic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antidiabetic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antifeedant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiflu 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiinflammatory 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antitumor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiviral 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Aphidifuge 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cytotoxic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

AntiHIV

  1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

  1. Dr. Duke

Antidiabetic

  1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antifeedant

  1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

  1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

  1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

  1. Dr. Duke

Antiviral

  1. Dr. Duke

Aphidifuge

  1. Dr. Duke

Cytotoxic

  1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Phillyrea latifolia has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include jaundice, weight loss.

Conditions investigated for Phillyrea latifolia
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Jaundice 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Weight loss 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Jaundice

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Weight loss

  1. Pharmaceutical biology

Preparations

Phillyrea latifolia has 3 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include boiled aqueous extract, methanolic extracts of the leaves, non-boiled aqueous extract.

Preparations reported for Phillyrea latifolia
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Boiled aqueous extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Methanolic extracts of the leaves 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Non-boiled aqueous extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Boiled aqueous extract

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanolic extracts of the leaves

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Non-boiled aqueous extract

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology